ISO (International Organization for Standardization) is authorized by IAF (International Accreditation Forum) to develop and publish standards for various industries, products, and services. These standards provide guidelines and best practices for organizations, ensuring that they uphold quality and consistency in their products or services.
In the context of GEM (Government e-Marketplace) tendering, ISO standards play an important role. GEM is a digital platform set up by the Indian government to facilitate procurement by government agencies. The platform is designed to enable transparent and efficient procurement of goods and services. To ensure that procurement meets high-quality standards, the Indian government has made certification of ISO standards mandatory for certain categories of goods, such as electrical and electronic equipment.
The relevant ISO standards for various categories of goods are identified and prescribed by the Bureau of Indian Standards (BIS). Bidders need to ensure that their products comply with the relevant ISO standards and obtain the necessary certifications from accredited certification bodies. The certifications are required to be submitted as part of the documentation during the bidding process.
In the context of GEM tendering, bidders must comply with the prescribed ISO standards and obtain the necessary certifications from accredited certification bodies. For example, for electrical and electronic equipment, compliance with relevant ISO standards such as ISO 9001, ISO 14001, ISO 27001, and ISO 45001 is mandatory. Additionally, the Indian government has prescribed several Indian Standards (IS) along with ISO standards, and bidders must comply with those standards as well.
By mandating compliance with ISO standards, the Indian government seeks to promote transparency, fairness, and competition in the procurement process while ensuring quality and minimizing the risk of fraud or malpractice.
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